Bulldogs gearing up for 2018
Note: This release has been updated to reflect a 5 p.m. start time at Mobile on Wednesday.
PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast men's soccer coach Chris Handy has been putting his 2018 Bulldogs through the paces for only a short time, but he's liking what he sees.
"We've been going for a week or so now, and they've already grown a bunch," he said. "We're happy with their progress, but I think it's going to be a season where they get better game by game. We should be there in the end if we continue to work and learn."
The Bulldogs open preseason play Wednesday with a trip to play the University of Mobile in a scrimmage. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. A second scrimmage is scheduled for Aug. 19 when LSU-Alexandria visits the MGCCC Soccer Complex for a 4 p.m. start.
The 2018 regular season starts in Milledgeville, Ga., with games Aug. 25-26 against Daytona State and Georgia Military. The Bulldogs, who went 13-3-1 last season, open MACJC South Division play Aug. 31 when archrival Pearl River visits Perkinston.
Season tickets are on sale at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets.
Gulf Coast has won 22 consecutive division contests dating back to 2015.
This year's team will be strong going forward. The focus of the attack will be Matt Roberts (Fr., Portsmouth England/Portsmouth Grammar School), with dynamic players in the midfield and fast players on the wings needed to generate chances.
"Matt is really good in front of goal," Handy said. "We have to make sure we are creating opportunities for him as a team. If we give him good opportunities in and around the 18, he's gonna finish."
Tylor Davis (So., Gulfport/West Harrison) is back on the wing after missing last year because of a broken leg. He's one of just five returning sophomores on the roster.
Griffin Bush (Fr., Pearl/Pearl) and Peyton Phillips (Fr., Wiggins/Stone) will see action on the wings, as will Dante Dismuke (Fr., St. Martin/St. Martin). Handy said Dismuke has super athleticism and does things on the field you can't teach.
C.J. Smith (So., Brampton Ontario/David Suzuki Secondary School) is another returning player, and he will team will fellow Canadian Cisco Thomas (Fr., Mississauga Ontario/Meadowvale Secondary School) as attacking midfielders.
"We can already see they work really well together," Handy said. "They combine in the middle to get us forward. I imagine those two will be the engine of our team."
Luke Mills (Fr., Leighton Buzzard England/Cedars Upper School), another international player, will play in defensive midfield and in the back four, as will returnee Oscar Loya Loya (So., Horn Lake/Horn Lake).
Chris Pasvantis (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) will be counted on for leadership in the back, and Darren Farris (So., Gulfport/West Harrison) has returned to campus a different player who will contribute far more.
Peyton Younger (Fr., Gulfport/West Harrison) is an incoming player who will figure in the defense.
The final line of defense will be keepers Kyle Kellems (Fr., Madison/Hartfield Academy) and Keaton Smith (Fr., Brandon/Brandon).
"Those two are still battling it out," Handy said. "They both have different strengths. Keaton has a good background and has done well in camp. Kyle has come in and he's a big ol' boy, and he's done well as well. They will fight it out much of the season until we can settle on who's the No. 1 and who's the No. 2."
The new team steps into the previously mentioned division streak, but Davis and Smith are the most significant contributors returning. Whether the streak survives or not, the biggest goal will be gaining the best postseason seed possible in a different playoff format.
Pearl River, which won a penalty shootout over MGCCC in the MACJC title game last year, and Jones County are expected to be improved in the South.
The MACJC tournament remains the same, but LSU Eunice has added men's soccer, which means there will be a Region 23 Tournament with two teams advancing to district play. The state runner-up will play LSU-E, and if the MACJC team wins that game, the MACJC champ will be region champion. If LSU-E wins, it will play the state champ for the region crown.
"We've got long-term goals in mind," Handy said. "With the playoff structure, seeding is going to be very important. We want to put ourselves in the best position to advance."
For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
